Brake mechanism



J. MERCIER Feb. 9, 1943.

BRAKE MECHANISM Filed April 15. 1939 NTT 7x/VENTO@ r l i Patented Feb. 9i, i943 UNITE 2,310,802 nimm Mscnmsiu J canV Mercier, Paris, Prc

Petty Application April 15, 193s, serial No. 268,094 y A m creat Brunn apra zr, 103s.

6 Claims.

'rms invention relai-,esto brake mechanism for vehicles and more particularly to brake controlling mechanism for aeroplanes, caterpillars, or

the like.

In order to tum on the ground with an aeroplane. a caterpillar or similar vehicles having 'brakes on both sides, ii;v is necessary that the pilotbe able to release the brake on the outside of the turn to be made and simultaneously to appli! the brake on the opposite side. In aeroplanes the swingle-bar which controls the vertical rudder generally serves also to distribute the br action: when said swingle-bar is turned inone direction it increases the braking action of one of the brakes and simultaneously reduces the braking action of the symmetrical brake.

The brakes generally used in these cases are actuated by fluid pressure and heretofore the iluid passed through pressure reducing means and then'through a distributor controlled by the pilot before entering a second distributor which directed it to the brakes at both sides ofthe vehicle. In certain of these 'brakes in which the iluid is led directly from the distributor to the b members the variations in the -braking action are very sudden.

To overcome diiilculty and obtain a p romain .pressure reducing device and the brakes, two supplementary pressure reducing devices disparent, however, that this complicates the mechanical structure and reduces to that extent its reliability in operation.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an arrangement whereby a smooth, pr action of the brakes is obtained without the assistance of pressure reducing means disposed between a main pressure releasing means and the brakes. In the illustrative emboent of the invention to be described this result is obtained by controlling thev cross section of the outlet of the distributor, preferably by-acting on the means for closing said outlet.

In accordance with the present invention this action on 'or control of the outlet" of the vdis-4 tributor may be made automatically by connect'- ing said closing'memfber of said outlet ,passage to the brake operating mechanism, so that operation' oithaiatter will simultaneously effect said control o'said outlet ge, that is to say of the cross section thereof. Where the brake mech :wir comprises a swingle-bar, and where i gressive brg and releasing action of` the. brakes it has been proposed to dispose betw'een -a posed at each side of the vehicle. It will be ap- France; vested in the Alien Custodian 'the pressure of the compressed fluid, this member is, according to the invention, connected at the other side to the said swingle-bar in such manner that, the outlet section of said opening, which influences the intensity of release, varies automatically as a function of the inclination of y said swingle-bar.

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention hereinafter described, the distributor is of the slide valve type, but it will be understood that the invention is not limited to any particular type of distributor. Suitable means is provided in accordance with the invention for operating the distributor, herein by moving the movable member or slide valve thereof. For example, said distributor operating means may be the swinglebar. vices either from one point or from a different point. In order to be able vto regulate the section of the distributor outlet at will for a move- `ment of the movable member of the distributor,4

a movement which cannot be modified since it depends on structural dimensions, the point of .connection of said swlnglebar with the closing true scope'of the invention being more particusaid closing means is subjected on one side to 55y larlypointedout in the appended claims'.

The distributor may and preferably will be of the type shown in Fig. lof my copending U. S. A. application" Serial No. 203,849 led on April 23, 193.8. to which reference may be had for a more detailed description. In the illustrative embodi ment of the invention said distributor comprises a'cylindr'ical slide valve 3 adapted to be moved in a cylinder t closed at the rightend by a stuihng box da and having at the left an outlet passage 5, 6 adapted to be closed by suitable closure means herein a ball i pressed against said opening 5 by a spring t. Connection between the distributor and thejbrakes at both sides of the vehicle is established by two passages 9 and iii, respectively, leading to said cylinder ii, each by two orifices l-li and l8'l1. Compressed fluid can lie-supplied to said distributor for applying the brakes through a conduit i8 from any connect said conduit either to said source or to 4 The latter may thus operate the two dement of said slide 3, therefore, thebrakes can be put in communication simultaneously with said supply passage I8 or one in communication with said outlet passage and the other simultaneously with said supply passage.

At the right said slide valve 3 is operatively connected to means for operating the brakes, said means being herein iilustratively shown in the form oi a swingle-bar I2 having a connectlng rod or link I 2b pivoted at I2c. At the left the closure means for the outlet passage 5,8 is shown, said means consisting of a ball 1. Means are provided for controlling the closing action of said ball, said controlling means herein illustratively comprising a spring 8 bearing on a piston I3 and a cam I4 against which said piston I3 abuts under the action of said spring 8, said cam having an arm I 4a connected by a rod or link I2d to a suitable point [2e of the bar I2. In the illustrative embodiment of the invention, there are thus two different points on said swingle-bar from one of which said swingle-bar operates the slide valve and from the other of which it controls said outlet 5, 6. Operation of said swingle-bar about its pivot I2a in the plane of the drawing thus causes said cam I4 to swing automatically about its axis I5 and move said piston I 3 longitudinally to produce a variation in the tension oi said spring 8 and consequently a change in the equilibrium between the compressed uid pressure in the cylinder 4 and the opposing action of the spring 8.

When the cylinder 4 has been supplied with compressed fluid for applying the brakes and when, consequent upon swinging movement of said cam I4 by movement oi' said swinging bar said piston I3 slides toward the left, said spring 8 will be extended to a point where it yields under the pressure in the cylinder 4, so that a certain quantity of compressed Yiiuid escapes through the outlets 5 and 6 from the brakes when the pressure of the spring 8 has become less than the pressure in the brake which is connected to said outlet. At this time the slide is in a position wherein communication is established between the compressed fluid supply passage I8 and the other symmetrical brake.

Thus the pilot or other operator when he actuates said swingle-bar and thus moves the slide valve 3 of the distributor to open or close the conduits 9 and I0 of the left or right hand brake, as the case may be, thus effecting an increase in the braking action on one side of the vehicle and a reduction in the braking action on the other side thereof, simultaneously causes a variation in the pressure exerted on the outer side of the ball valve 1, thus producing a progressive expansion of the compressed uid contained in and completely by-passing said distributor I. said passage being provided with check valves 2|, vil which are maintained closed by the pressure of the supply. of compressed uid so long as the latter reaches said distributor. Said branch passage 20 serves to empty the brakes quickly of tluid pressure, so soon as the pilot or other operator of the brakes cuts of! the compressed iluid supply from the distributor. As soon as this'happens,

-the uid pressure in the brakes raises the valves 2|, 2i' and puts the brakes in direct communication with the atmosphere by way oi the opening in the control valve 2. The latter may be of any suitable type as, for example, illustrated and deone or the other of the brakes. The direct escape ,of the fluid pressure from the brakes 'is thus varied or regulated gradually. which renders progressive, as a' function of the inclination ot` said swingle-bar, the releasing action of the brake supply passage I8 to the two passages 9 and I0 75 scribed in United States P-atent 1,526,452, granted February 1'7, 1925,b or United States Patent 1,541,913, granted June 16, 1925. Such valves are adapted, normally, to maintain the brakes in communication with the atmosphere and, when actuated to admit pressure to the brakes, are adapted rst to close the communication between the brakes and the atmosphere, and then to place the brakes in communication with the source of pressure uid.

I am aware that my invention may be embodied in' other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather thanto the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Distributor system for two uid' pressure actuated brakes comprising one supply and exhaust line for iiuid under pressure communicating with a valve body, two conduits for supply and exhaust offiiuid pressure to and from said brakes, each conduit communicating with said valve body through a pair oi openings, valve means inside said valve body, an exhaust port in said valve body, and means for operating said 'valve-means from vthe outside, said valve means being adapted to afford communication, in its neutral position, between said line and two open- .ings, each communicating with one oi said conduits, while obstructing the remaining openings, and, when displaced from its neutral position, to restrict progressively the communication between said line and one of said conduits and simultaneously to afford, progressively, communication between said one conduit and said exhaust port, without aiecting the conditiony of the other conduit.

2. Distributor system for two fluid pressure actuated brakes comprising one supply and exhaust line for fluid under pressure abutting on a cylindrical chamber, two conduits for supply and exhaust of uid pressure to and from said brakes, each communicating with said chamber through a pair of openings, an exhaust port in said chamber, a piston-like member sliding in said chamber provided in its central part with an annular passage, an axial passage inside said member permitting fluid to flow towards said exhaust port, and means for operating said member from the outside, said member being adapted to aii'ord communication, in its neutral position, between said line and two adjacent openings, each communicating with one of said conduits, while obstructing the two remaining openings', and, when displaced from its neutral position, to restrict progressively the communication between said line and one of said conduits and simultaneously toaiiord, progressively, communication between 2,`s1o,soa

vsaid one conduit and said exhaust port, without anecting the condition of the other conduit.

3; Distributor system according to claim 1 inwhich said exhaust port is controlled by a spring loaded valve.'

4. Distributor system according to claim 1 in which said exhaust port is controlled by a spring loaded valve, the pressure of the spring being controlled by a cam.

5. Distributor system according to claim 1 in which said exhaust port' is controlled by a spring loaded valve, the pressure of the spring being controlled by a cam, said cam being pivoted at a point outside said valve body and operatively connected to said means for operating said valve means from the outside, so as to compress said spring most when said valve means is in its neutral .position and to progressively release said spring by turning to either sideV when said valve means isdisplaced lfrom its neutral position.

6. Distributor system for two duid pressure actuated brakes according to claim 1 in which each of said conduits is connected to said supply and exhaust line b'y a separate pipe, independent from said valve body and valve means, and including a spring loaded check valve, whereby fluid is prevented from flowing from said line into said conduits but is admitted from either of said conduits into said line whenever the pressure in said conduit is higher than the combined pressure of said spring acting on the respective check valve and the iuid in said supply and exhaust line.

JEANRIERCIER. 

